August 19, 2010

Indiana Social Security Disability Appeals Process Waiting Period

Indianapolis Social Security Disability Attorney Scott D. Lewis represents Indiana Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits claimants with their pending claims. Initial disability claims may be filed at a local Social Security Administration (SSA) office, by calling the SSA’s toll free phone number, or visiting the SSA’s website. Although it may be discouraging to claimants to hear that some sources report 70% of all claims are denied at the initial application, Scott Lewis encourages his clients to continue to fight for their disability benefits by appealing the SSA’s decision to deny their claim. Statistically, continuing the appeals process may be beneficial to 70-80% of all claims that were initially denied.

What’s the downfall to appealing your claim? Disability Lawyer Scott Lewis would say that it is the time period the Indiana SSDI and SSI claimants have to wait in order to get a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). Attorney Lewis advises all of his claimants to “not give up” and continue with the disability appeals process. Because of the “backlog” of disability cases in the state of Indiana, Indianapolis Social Security disability claimants may find themselves waiting two years before they are in front of an ALJ for their disability hearing.

What does a client do when they are waiting for a hearing in front of an ALJ? Continue to be patient, keep your Social Security Lawyer informed, continue to visit with your doctors, and do not become discouraged. As frustrating as it may be, when Attorney Scott Lewis wins his clients claims, often his clients will get a lump sum payment from the SSA for the time that they have waited to get a disability hearing. Even though the wait may be long, many Indiana Social Security disability claimants find that they have no choice but to fight the SSA’s initial decision because the claimant cannot work to provide for their family.